ORC approval allows more widening of peninsula roads

Further road widening work on the lower Otago Peninsula road
can now begin after consents were granted for the next stages
of the project.

The Otago Regional Council granted consent for the Dunedin
City Council to reclaim parts of the foreshore and seabed to
widen Harington Point and Portobello Rds for a cycle and
pedestrian path, bus stop areas, turning bays and the
''softening of some corners''.

The work was part of a series of projects along the peninsula
planned to improve vehicle, cycle and pedestrian safety on
both roads.

About 5.3km of road widening had already been completed on
the roads.

City council transport group projects engineer Evan Matheson
said he was pleased to get the consents and the conditions
imposed by the hearing panel were in line with what had been
expected.

''They're fair and reasonable. They reflect the similar work
we've done on Portobello Rd.''

The council planned to call for tenders for the next stage of
the work - 2.7km of Harington Point Rd from Otakou Fisheries
to the end of the Harington Point village - in June or July,
at a cost of $3 million.

Before they do so they would be consulting the Harington
Point community about the detailed design plan, he said.

The stretch had some particular issues with drainage and
ponding during heavy rain and also had to accommodate beach
access.